News & Reviews

Opening at the Masque Theatre, Muizenberg on Fri. 1 November is Alan Ayckbourn's clever, dark comedy "Henceforward..." -directed by Wendy Goddard for Claremont Dramatic Society. The play features sci-fi / fantasy elements in which an android plays a poignant part.

Alan Ayckbourn is an Olivier and Tony Award winning playwright who has written 77 plays, more than half of which have been produced in London's West End as well as around the world.

As an acclaimed director, he has worked extensively in the West End and has also run his own company at the National Theatre.

‘Henceforward...’was first performed in 1987, and is Ayckbourn’s 34th full-length play. In 1988, Ian McKellen portrayed Jerome in the run at the Lyric Theatre in London.

PerformancesFriday 1 November at 20h00;Saturday 2 November at 14h30 & 18h30;Thursday 7 November at 20h00;Friday 8 November at 20h00 &Saturday 9 November at 14h30 & 18h30.

What's the most important thing for composer Jerome: a great new work, or his family?

It's sometime in the near future. Composer Jerome has been suffering a creative block. His only company is his beloved music, the ultra-modern recording devices that surround him, and a malfunctioning humanoid robot, NAN 300F.

Jerome has been unable to work since his wife, Corinna, left with their daughter Geain, four years ago. Desperate to see Geain again and hoping she'll release the flood-gates, he engages a young actress, Zoë, to pretend to be his fiancée. He wants to deceive his ex- wife into believing he's a fit person to be allowed to spend time with Geain. But, owing to his obsession with recording every intimate moment, Zoë quits. Can Jerome now re- programme robot Nan to sound and look like perfect Zoë? And what is most important to

Jerome - writing the perfect piece of music on the subject of love - or being back with his family? Life or Art? Plus - which is better - a robot or a human being?

Much of the ‘futuristic’ technology in the play has come to pass – cellphones, videophones and GPSs. As a result we have set the production in 2013 and updated any obsolete references. ‘Henceforward...’ is not presented very often, as it is technically rather challenging – with more than 30 sound and video clips which need to have been recorded in advance and played on cue.